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686,000 people sought help with Thriveworks in the last year

Discover how starting autism therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Starting Autism therapy

What is Autism therapy?

Autism therapy treats the symptoms and needs of those with autism spectrum disorder. The ultimate goal of autism therapy is to improve a child's functioning and support development and learning.

How does Autism therapy work?

Often, multiple therapy types from the providers at Thriveworks in Dover, DE are incorporated into autism therapy. Individual needs might include reducing problematic behaviors, building social skills, improving communication, and addressing emotional challenges.

Is Autism therapy conducted in person or online?

Autism therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does Autism therapy last?

Every child is unique and their treatment plan with our Dover therapists will be tailored to their specific needs, meaning the length of therapy for autism can vary. That said, most kids with autism attend autism therapy for two years.

Need more help deciding?

All kids deserve an equal chance at life, but not all kids are the same. Each one is unique in their passions, ways of learning, and interactions with the world. But sometimes, the ways that make a child unique can also hold them back from an independent, fulfilling life.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affects the development of communication and behavior. Because of the way society runs, ASD can negatively impact a child’s social and academic life, their future career, and their ability to become independently functioning adults. However, this does not mean children with ASD have to live a “lesser” life! With a little extra help and guidance, children with ASD can thrive in their worlds.

At Thriveworks Dover, we have a specialist therapist trained in Autism Therapy who is passionate about walking alongside those with autism so they can life fulfilling, happy lives just as well as those without ASD.

What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

In the psychology field, autism is classified as a developmental disorder. Basically, this means it has a strong genetic base and symptoms begin during childhood.

Autism in specific is a disorder that affects how children see the world and interact with it. Usually they will have trouble interacting with peers and challenges in a school setting.

Thriveworks Dover wants to stress that children and adults with autism are no less capable of leading a successful life than neurotypicals (those without autism). The definition of “success” might have to be tweaked a little, and there will no doubt be challenges along the way, but at the end of the day, autism is not a curse. It is a unique perspective of the world that can make things difficult, but not impossible.

So, what are the signs of autism? Usually symptoms begin to show around age 2 and are pretty noticeable. If you think your child may have autism, look for these signs:

  • Inability to make eye contact
  • Poor listening skills
  • Doesn’t seem to express emotion (not a lot of smiling or laughing. Facial expressions may not change often.)
  • Failure to respond or lapse in response when their name is called
  • Difficulty holding a conversation
  • Intense, focused interest in one topic
  • Difficulty reading contextual clues and tone of voice
  • Repetitive speech or actions (repeating words or phrases, one specific movement that is repeated)
  • Difficulty adapting to change of routine or need to have things stay the same
  • Acute sensitivity to light, texture, noise, or taste
  • Disturbances in sleep patterns
  • Preference for older companions, difficulty relating to peers.

These are just some of the more common autism symptoms. It is a very diverse and complicated disorder, so every person will exhibit symptoms differently! As the name suggests, it is also a spectrum. So, each person will experience symptoms with varying degrees of severity.

It can be scary and confusing when you have a child with autism symptoms and frustrating as an adult. Thriveworks Dover is here to help guide you through the therapy process and reach that life you deserve.

What Is Autism Therapy?

Since every case of ASD is unique, so is every therapy journey. The age of the person, gender, and symptoms will affect the exact path a counseling session takes. Dover Thriveworks believes in a client-first practice that focuses on what your goals are. We are professionals, and have years of experience to draw upon, but at the end of the day, therapy is about you. Getting you and your child to a place where you are both thriving is our goal. Together, we can get there.

Of course, there are some common threads between Autism Therapy sessions. In a session, a Thriveworks Dover counselor might:

  • Work with the school to get in-class aid
  • Develop communication skills
  • Work with parents to adapt to the child’s unique needs (like sensitivities to changing plans or texture, for example)
  • Practice physical therapy (managing repetitive behavior)
  • Develop behavioral management skills
  • Practice occupational therapy (teaching children and adults how to do basic life skills like getting dressed or brushing their teeth)

These are just a few of the specific therapies you might work through with your Thriveworks Dover Autism Therapist. As always, it is important to see a counselor quickly when you begin to recognize signs. Therapy for autism is proven to help improve the overall life satisfaction, and the earlier we start, the better it will be!

An autism diagnosis can be scary and confusing. Where do you even start? Is there hope? What’s the next step? Thriveworks Dover wants to assure you that yes, there is hope, and plenty of it! Autism is not preventable or curable, but it is manageable, and does not have to be a hinderance to a great life. Yes, life will be different for those with autism, but different is not always bad. With a Thriveworks Dover Autism specialist, different can thrive.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Dover therapists and counselors accept 22 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • AmeriHealth New Jersey

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware | BCBS

  • Humana Exchange

  • Humana HMO/POS

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Self-pay costs at Dover
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

5.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
I have had nothing but a great results seeing Emily! She has helped me walk through my problems and try different ways to work through them. She is a wonderful listener and person. I would highly reccomend Emily. I look forward to her help with my problems.
Read more I have had nothing but a great results seeing Emily! She has helped me walk through my problems and try different ways to work through them. She is a wonderful listener and person. I would highly reccomend Emily. I look forward to her help with my problems.
Theresa Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I’ve been searching for the right fit. Had almost given up after 2 unsuccessful relationships with other counselors in the last year. Thriveworks makes scheduling easy, takes my insurance (Aetna), and offers quality, invested care. For the first time, I look forward to counseling sessions and feel so much better after! Hend Salah is helping me see things differently and get my life back on track.
Read more I’ve been searching for the right fit. Had almost given up after 2 unsuccessful relationships with other counselors in the last year. Thriveworks makes scheduling easy, takes my insurance (Aetna), and offers quality, invested care. For the first time, I look forward to counseling sessions and feel so much better after! Hend Salah is helping me see things differently and get my life back on track.
Dover Feb 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Thriveworks is a very significant business for many families around the world the new location is beautiful and the staff is extremely professional and very helpful..A plus grade all day
Read more Thriveworks is a very significant business for many families around the world the new location is beautiful and the staff is extremely professional and very helpful..A plus grade all day
Dover Aug 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Very Professional Staff!...Very Clean offices...and I appreciate the coffee.
Dover Aug 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I am very pleased with Thrive Counseling. The staff there are super helpful and make for a pleasant experience.
Read more I am very pleased with Thrive Counseling. The staff there are super helpful and make for a pleasant experience.
Dover Aug 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Thriveworks is amazing. The owners are such caring and amazing people, always going out of their way to help. The online portal is the best . I highly recommend Thriveworks
Read more Thriveworks is amazing. The owners are such caring and amazing people, always going out of their way to help. The online portal is the best . I highly recommend Thriveworks
Dover May 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I love Thriveworks and was so excited to see this new location in Dover. When I called the number to get info I spoke directly to the owner and she was so sweet and helpful. So much so I felt I needed to leave a review. Cant wait until they open.
Read more I love Thriveworks and was so excited to see this new location in Dover. When I called the number to get info I spoke directly to the owner and she was so sweet and helpful. So much so I felt I needed to leave a review. Cant wait until they open.
Dover May 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Dover is located at 1326 S Governors Ave Suite A, Dover, DE 19904, at the intersection of Fiddlers Green.

Phone number

(302) 365-8761

Languages spoken by DE providers

  • English
  • French
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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